Stalk-cutter.



PATENTBD AUG. 2, 1904.

R. C. TALLY.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLIOATIOH FILED no. a. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H0 MODEL PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

R. G. TALLY' STALK CUTTER.

APPLIUATIOH FILE]; DBO.8. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H0 MODEL.

NITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

RICHARD C. TALLY, OF NA'lTl-LAN, TEXAS.

STALK-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 766,401, dated August 2,1904. A h ati fil d December 8,1903. Serial No. 184,312. (No model.)

To (til Nil b07771 it nm-y concern:

Be it known that l, RICHARD C. TALLY, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Nathan, in the county of Johnson and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Cutters, of whichthe following is a specification. 7

This invention relates to agricultural implements, and most especiallyto machinery for cutting stalks, the essential feature being theprovision of cutting mechanism which is K vertically adjustable to cutthe stalks about on a level with the ground or at any distancethereabove as may be required.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the followingdescriptionand drawings hereto attached.

hile the essential and characteristic features of the invention aresusceptible of moditication, still the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure1 is a perspective View of a stalkcutter embodying the invention. Fig. 2is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the implement. Fig.4C is a section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2 of the arcuate guide, showingthe means for securing the frame of the cutting mechanism at therequired position. Fig. 5 is a detail view on the line X X of Fig. 2,showing the means for securing the supporting-wheel to the outer end ofthe frame at the required adjusted position. Fig. 6 is a detail viewshowing more clearly the arcuate guide or standard for connecting theframe of the reel to the main frame.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The frame of the machine is indicated at 1, and the pole or tongue 2projects forward therefrom in line with the side bar and is providedwith the usual appurtenances. for hitching the team thereto. Theground-wheel 3 is secured to the axle 4, so as to rotate therewith. Theshaft 5 is journaled to the side bars of the frame 1, parallel with the.axle 1, and is provided with sprocketgears 6 and 7. A sprocket-chain 8connects the sprocket-wheel 6 with the sprocket-wheel 9, secured to theaxle 1. A sprocket-chain 10 connects the sprocket-wheel 7 with thesprocket-wheel 11, loose upon the inner end of the reel-shaft 12. Thesprocket-wheel 11 is provided upon its inner side with a half-clutchwhich cooperates with a corresponding half-clutch 13, movable on theshaft 12, yet mounted so as to rotate therewith. The spring 1-1, mountedupon the shaft 12, normally presses the half-clutch 13 into engagementwith the half-clutch of the sprocket-gear 11, so as to cause the partsto rotate forward when the machine is drawn over the ground.

The frame 11, supporting the cutting-reel, is approximately of U formand comprises a horizontal bar and uprights 15, the latter provided attheir upper ends with bearings to receive the shaft 12. The frame 14 isadjustable vertically to regulate the height of the out above the groundand is strengthened by means of the brace 16, which is pivotallyconnected at its lower rear end to the inner upright 15 and islongitudinally slotted at its upper end, as shown at 17, to receive thebolt 18, by means of which the brace is adjustably connected to thesubjaccnt side of the frame 1. In order that the tension upon thesprocketchain or drive-belt 10 may not be materially affected by thevertical adjustment of the frame 14, the latter is moved on the arc of acircle concentric with the shaft For securing the frame 14 in theadjusted position the following means have been devised and consist ofthe guide 19, which is of arcuate form and bolted 01' otherwise securelyfastened to a side bar of the frame 1, so as to be concentric with theshaft 5. This guide19 is an iron or casting of substantial formation andcomprises a base-piece and overhanging flanges 20, which have their edgeportions spaced apart a distance to receive the bolt or threaded stem21, connected at its inner end to the block or plate 22, slidable freelyin the space of the guide. The stem or fastening 21 passes through anopening of the inner upright 15 and receives upon its projecting end thehand-nut 23, by means of which the parts are secured after the frame hasbeen adjusted to the required position, the flanges being clampedbetween the plate 22 and the upright 15. When adjusting the cuttingapparatus vertically, the clamp-nuts of the fastenings 18 and 21 areloosened, thereby permitting the frame and brace 16 to adapt themselvesto the vertical movement of the frame 14:, while at the same timeadmitting of said frame remaining parallel to a given position or tooccupy a perpendicular position when finally adjusted. After the cuttingmechanism has been adjusted it is'made secure by retightening theclamp-nuts previously loosened. The supporting-wheel 24: at the outerend of the frame 14 is vertically adjustable, so as to travel upon theground and support the outer end of the frame it when moved to therequired position.

The arms 25 of the reel are connected to the shaft in any substantialmanner and support the traveling cutters 26, which connect the outerends of corresponding arms and are arranged obliquely to the shaft, soas to cooperate with the stationary cutter-bar of the frame 14 by adraw-cut action in the manner well understood. The lower horizontal barof the frame 14 is sharpened at its front edge or may be provided with acutter of any form, and the edges of the bars 26, cooperating with thestationary cutter, are correspondingly sharpened, so as to insure acutting of the stalks with a minimum expenditure of force.

A machine constructed substantially as herein disclosed is drawn overthe field, and for convenience of the driver a seat 27 is provided andconveniently located upon the frame 1. As the machine moves forwardmotion is transmitted from the drive-wheel 3 to the cutting-reel bymeans of the gearing illustrated, and in order to prevent injury to thereel by backward movement of the machine the clutch mechanism hereinreferred to has been provided and interposed between the reel-shaft andthe sprocket-wheel 11.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is 1. In astalk-cutter, the combination of the frame, a shaft, as 5, journaled tothe frame and adapted to have motion imparted thereto from thedrive-wheel, a cutting mechanism comprising a frame and reel, means fortransmitting motion from said shaft 5 to the shaft of the cutting-reel,and means for vertically adjusting the cutting mechanism in a curvedpath concentric with the said shaft 5, said means comprising an arcuateguide, a plate cooperating therewith, and securing means between saidplate and frame of the cutting mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. In a stalk-cutter, the combination of a frame, a supporting-wheeltherefor, a shaft, as 5, journaled to the frame and adapted to receivemotion from the drive-wheel, a cutting mechanism comprising a frame areel, means for transmitting motion from the shaft 5 to the shaft of thereel, a guide, a plate adjustable in said guide, means pivotallyconnecting the frame to the plate and securing said plate and frame tothe guide inan adjusted position, a brace pivoted at one end to thelower portion of the frame, and means adjustably connecting the oppositeend of the brace to the main frame of the machine, substantially asspecified.

3. In combination, the main frame, a supporting-wheel therefor, a shaft,as 5, journaled to the frame and connected with the supporting-wheel toreceive motion therefrom, a vertically adjustable frame, a cutting reeljournaled to the frame, a sprocket-gear loose upon the shaft of the reeland geared to the shaft 5, a clutch between the reel-shaft and thesprocket-gear loosely mounted thereon, a supporting-wheel at the outerend of the frame vertically adjustable, a brace pivoted to theadjustable frame at one end, means for adjustably connecting the braceto the main frame at the opposite end, an arcuate guide secured to themain frame, a plate adjustable with reference to said guide andpivotally supporting the adjustable frame, and means for securing theplate and adjustable frame to the guide, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD C. TALLY. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

E. WV. LYNN, J. W. CHAPMAN.

